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Energy Performance Certificates for holiday lets
Are you aware that from the 30th June 2011 your holiday let accommodation will need an Energy Performance Certificate if it’s rented out, short term, for a combined total of four months or more in any 12 month period?
Although there has been little publication of the rules, The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced that from 30th June, the requirement to have Energy Performance Certificates will extend to self-catering holiday lets in England and Wales.
The decision to extend EPCs to short term holiday lets is seen as a measure to reduce carbon emissions. The holiday let EPC will be the same as a domestic EPC, with a scale of A-G showing how energy efficient a property is.
How to get an EPC
An EPC will be issued following an inspection of your holiday rental by a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). Survey prices range from £30 to £50 but vary depending on the size of the property. To find a surveyor visit https://www.epcregister.com/searchAssessor.html
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
You could face a penalty of up to £200 per property. However, there are questions of how Trading Standards will enforce this legislation considering the confusion on how it works and the lack of publicity.
Other considerations;
- Holiday homes that are let for less than 4 months will be exempt
- If your accommodation was built from 2008 onwards, check if you already have an energy certificate
- Most EPCs are valid for 10 years
- Mobile homes, caravans and park homes are not considered to be buildings as defined and are exempt.
The option to extend EPCs to short term holiday lets is seen as a measure to significantly reduce carbon emissions. However, this legislation is not without controversy and is seen by some owners as just another revenue stream.
After all, it’s the holiday let owner who pays the energy bills so they have an interest in maximising energy efficiency. A large proportion of holiday homes are also only let through the summer months when energy consumption will be low.
Seek advice from an accredited assessor to ensure you comply with the new rules before June 30.
Trying to find advice which is both comprehensive and accurate is nearly impossible. Worryingly, even accredited EPC assessors are admitting they don’t understand the rules for holiday accommodation. One website clearly states accommodation let for less than 11 months is exempt as is “all holiday accommodation”!! “Park homes” are exempt but the regulations provide no definition of a park home. They actually mean anything equivalent to a mobile home and NOT any dwelling that just happens to be on a holiday park. We have a wooden lodge on a holiday park but it is NOT exempt.
This web page goes a long way to providing answers for holiday accommodation providers but we need a comprehensive list of FAQs (with answers!!).
Hi Eldin,
I agree, it’s still unclear. Have you contacted the English Association of Self Catering Operators (EASCO)? They have published some informative advice on the situation on their Facebook page facebook.com/eascouk
This seems a little harsh as generally for short term holiday lets the owner will pay the energy bills as opposed to long term lets where the tenants pay the bills. Good to know though although have to say this doesn’t seem to have been particularly well publicised as this is the first I have heard of it.